Machine for dispensing and severing draw tape



April 5, 1960 F. w. HUMPHNER 2,931,419

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING AND SEVERING DRAW TAPE" Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 37 4@ Q 1 I5 5' 27:5 Q

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ATTORNEYS.

April 5, 19 0 F. w. HUMPHNER 2,931,419

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING AND SEVERING DRAW TAPE Filed Aug. 5. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

INVTOR.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING AND SEVERING DRAW TAPE Ferdinand W. Humphner, River Forest, 11L, assignar, by mesne assignments, to Minnesota Mining and Mannfactoring Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 447,976 17 Claims. (Cl. 154-13) This invention relates to a machine for dispensing and severing draw tape, and more particularly to a machine or device for forming apertures or slits in filamentequipped tape to any desired extent and then finally severing the tape.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact structure in which a filament and tape member may be bonded together and the resulting combined structure slitted in a desired manner and at desired intervals, while providing means for severing the tape at any selected point. A further object is to provide means in the device for moistening the tape without bringing the moisture into contact with the filament while at the same time providing cut-off means and a guard therefor and guide means for accurate manipulation of the cutting mechanism. A still further object is to provide in such a structure movable die and cutter means for forming severing or cutting operations within the tape and for adjusting the cutter and knife within the machine to various desired positions. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine or device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a. transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the moistening device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a detail sectional view of the tape cut-off, the section being taken as indicated at line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a plan sectional view, the view being taken as indicated at line 7--7 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8, a detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

'In the illustration given, 10 designates a casing which may be of any suitable type or construction. In the specific illustration given, the casing 10 is a relatively narrow and tall case having an open top side. Mounted within the case is a shaft 11 receiving a roll of gummed tape 12. The tape is fed upon a roller 13 mounted upon shaft 14, where it meets a filament 15 which has been moistened and which tends to thus attach itself to the remoistening glue or adhesive on the underside of the tape 12. The filament 15 is fed from a roll carried upon the shaft 16, and it passes over a moistening roller 17, or other suitable moistening device such as a felt wick, mounted for rotation within a vessel 18 containing water or other moistening fluid. The vessel 18 receives the liquid from a fount 19, also supported within the casing 10 through the conduit 19a. Wire guides 20 and 21 are provided for holding the filament 15 in contact with the moistening roller 17. The filament 15 may be string, textile cord, plastic, or any suitable material which will receive the moisture and be bonded thereby to the dry glue or adhesive carried by the tape 12.

The tape 12 combined with the filament 15 passes H Fatented Apr. 5, 1960 around another roller 22 carried by shaft 23 and thence moves upwardly around an upper roller 24 mounted on shaft 25. The roller 24 is spaced upwardly and rearwardly from the roller 22 and a circuitous path oftravel of considerable length is thus provided to permit the filament 15 to adhere firmly to the tape 12 before it is dispensed.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 8, one of the side walls of case 10 has welded or otherwise secured thereto an angle support 26 which supports a tape guide 27. The tape guide 27 is provided with inwardly-turned upper flanges 28 for confining the tape therein. Preferably the guide for the tape is wider at the back end of the machine so as to prevent the cutter die mechanism later described from pulling the tape out of the guide, while also permitting the operator to reach in for a new strip of tape. Within the guide 27 is supported a die plate 29 which, in the illustration given, has an H-shaped slit 30 therein. As indicated more clearly in Fig. 8, the tape 12, equipped with the draw filament 15, is guided above the die 29 as the operator draws the tape forward. The die plate 29 is slidably mounted within a recess in the support 26 and is secured therein by means of setscrews 31, which travel within an elongated slot 32 in the support 26. By this means, the die plate 29can be moved longitudinally of the support 26 and then secured in position by screwing the clmp 31 tightly into place.

Above the top of the casing 10 extends a swing bar or lever 33. In the illustration given, the bar 33 is pivotally mounted upon shaft 34 and carries, at an intermediate position, a cutter plate 35. The cutter plate 35 is provided with a pair of inclined cutter blades 36 extending in parallel and a transverse cutter blade 37 extending between the blades 36. This combination of blades conforms to the die 30a shown in Fig. 7 and forms with the die 30a an H-shaped slit within the tape passing through the guide 27. The plate 35 is adjustably secured upon the bar 33 by means of screw members 38 which extend through the slit 39 of bar 33. In practice, when the die and cutters are to be moved longitudinally, I prefer to loosen the screws 31 and 38 and then, after bringing the cutters into engagement with the die 30a, to move both the cutters and the die longitudinally to the desired position, after which the threaded members 31 and 38 are tightened. For the efiective operation of the device, I prefer to maintain the swing bar or lever 33 normally in the partially raised position shown in Fig. 2, and for this purpose there is fixed to the bar a depending 1ever'4tl having a foot portion 41 engaged by a tension spring 42 secured to the pin 43. The spring thus maintains the swing bar 33 in the elevated position shown. If desired, the bar 33 may be provided with an operating handle or knob 44.

At the forward end of the bar 33 is a cutter knife'45, and a guard 46 extends over and beyond the knife. The knife 45 cooperates with a crossbar 47 which provides an edge adjacent the knife and a plate 48 spaced outwardly from the edge 47 supports the knife as it extends down; wardly.

A moistening fount or vessel 49 at the discharge end of the machine is supplied with water or other moistening fluid through pipe 50 leading from the fount or tank 51. The vessel 49 is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. Within the vessel are mounted brushes 52, and between the brushes extends a guard or metal band53 adapted to contact the ribbon 15 of the tape 12 and thus prevent the ribbon or filament from coming into contact with the moistened brushes 52.

The cutters 36 and 37 have cutting edges slanting along an inclined line from one side to the other, as indicated in Fig. 2, and are thus each similar to the structure of the main cutter 45, as shown in Fig. 6. With may form this arrangement, the cutter pierces the paper or tape body first at one point and then cuts laterally therefrom, making thus a progressive'slitting of the tape as the cutters pass downwardly and through the openings of the die 30a. While in the particular illustration given, the cutters and dies are shaped to form slits in the shape of the letter H, it will be understood that these may be so shaped as to form a V-shaped slit, and X-shaped .slit, a slanting slit, and slits of a variety of other formations.

The swing bar 33 is preferably formed of spring steel and is held by the spring and lever at approximately 45 when not in use. In operation, the flexibility of the bar or lever 33 permits the cutters 35 and 37 to function in slitting the tape and filament without bringing the cutter 45 into play, and it is for this reason that i prefer to employ the lever 33 of spring steel.

Operation In the operation of the machine, the operator reaches into the end of the guide to draw forward a strip of tape 12, and as the tape is drawn forward, he depresses lever 33 to cut slits in the tape at any desired intervals. He a dozen slits in succession within a single strip of tape, and then he depresses the knob 44 and a lever 33 causing the forward end of the lever to bring the knife into substantially a, vertical plane against the crossbar 47, and here the tape is severed transversely. The severed strip, which has passed over the moistening brushes '2, may then be applied to the carton or other container, etc. It will be observed that the guard strip 53 over the brushes prevents the moistening brushes from coming into contact with the draw filament 15 itself.

In the next operation, the operator may draw a long or short strip of tape through the guide 27, and he may form two or ten or any selected number of slits therein by moving the lever 33 downwardly to bring the cutters 36 and 37 into the die 3612 but without bringing the severing knife 45 into play. Finally, after the desired number of slits have been made, the lever 33 will be moved all the way down and the forward end of the spring steel lever will tend to straighten and bring the blade 45 into vertical alignment with the recess behind the plate 48 and infront of the cross strip 47. By the foregoing operation, it will be noted that the operator uses a single lever 33, and by means :of this swing lever is able to accomplish both the slitting operation and the severing operation, the slitting operation being independent of the severing operation.

A large number of operations are accomplished thus by simply drawing the tape forwardly and byrnanipulatcauses the tape and the filament strip to be united While at the same time feeding the united structure forwardly for slitting and finally severing.

When the lever is depressed, the tab-forming die and cutters engage the paper first, but the cycle is not complete until the spring lever 33 is depressed completely, forming a slight arch so as to cut through the paper and filament. When the lever has engaged the cutter and die parts, the. paper is held rigid thereby during the cutting of the tape and the string by the blade 45.

In the carrying out of my invention, it will be understood that at least one of the members, including the lever member and the guide member, must be equipped With the cutting means for forming the tabs, and such cutting means may be located at various points relative to the pivot of the lever for the forming of the tab by an initial or partial stroke'of the lever, the complete severing of the tape being accomplished plete movement of the lever.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth the structure in considerable, detail, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by by a final, com- 7 those skilled in the art filament into contact with without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine for slitting and severing a filamentequipped tape, a guide member for receiving and guiding the tape, a swing member mounted for movement relative to said guide member, and means on at least one of said members for slitting the tape through said filament to form a tab but without completely severing the tape by a partial movement of the lever, and cutting means actuated by a greater movement of the lever for transversely severing the tape, whereby a tape may be slitted any number of times without and independently of any severing thereof. I w

2. In a machine for dispensing filament-equipped tape, a guide member along which the tape may be drawn, a pivotally-rnounted lever above said guide means, cutting means carried by said lever for slitting said tape through said filament without severing the same to form tabs therein, said cutting means depending from said lever to a distancewhich accomplishes a slitting of the tape by partial movement of said lever, and a cutter carried by said lever near the outer end thereof for completely severing the tape when said lever is swung to a lowermost position, whereby a tape may be slitted any number of times without and independently of any severing thereof. ,3. The structure of claim 2 in which said lever is formed of spring metal and in which the lever bends to bring the cutter thereof to a generally vertical position as it meets said tape.

4. A tape-dispensing and tab-fonningmachine, comprising a frame, a guide supported in the upper portion of said frame and adapted to receive tape thereon, a lever pivotally mounted in said frame for movement toward said guide, a die carried 1:) I said guide, a knife carried by said lever and adapted to cooperate with said die for the forming of a tab in a tape supported thereon, and severing means carried by the outer end of said lever for severing tape, said knife and lever being dimensioned and arranged to enable the knife to engage a tape received on said guide independently of said severing means and repeatedly without the. severing means engaging such tape.

5. A machine for forming filament-equipped tape and dispensing the same, comprising a frame, means for applying a liquid to a filament, m'eans'for bringing the gummed tape for securing the portion of the tape, a guide receiving the filament-equipped filament to the gummed carried by said frame for 7 a tab when the lever is moved partially toward said guide, and means carried by said lever for transversely severing said tape and filament.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which spring means normally maintain said lever in raised position.

7. The structure, of claim 5, in which said knife is adjustably mounted for longitudinal movement upon said lever. I V V i 8. in combination with a machine for uniting a filament to tape, a frame, a guide supported in the upper portion of said frame and adapted to receive the filamentequipped tape thereon, a pivotally-mounted lever, a knife carried by said lever at an intermediate point thereon, a die carried by said guide and having an opening therein for receiving said knife, said knife and die being arranged to sever said filament and a portion of said tape to provide a tab, a guide link secured to said leveig'spring means fixed to said frame for normally urging said link and lever upwardly, and a severing cutter carried by said lever near the outer end thereof, said lever, knife and severing cutter beingoriented to afford repetitious engagement of a tape by the knife, when desired, prior to any engagement thereof by said severing cutter.

9. The structure of claim 8, in which the lever is made of spring steel, whereby said cutter moves to a generally vertical position as the lever bends in the final portion of its travel.

10. The structure of inclined lower edge.

11. The structure of claim 8, in which the knife is composed of a plurality of inclined cutting edges.

12. The structure of claim 8, in which the knife are mounted for longitudinal adjustment.

13. The structure of claim 8, in which the frame is equipped with a cutter bar and a recess adjacent the outer side thereof for receiving a cutter carried by said lever.

14. In combination with a machine for uniting a filament to tape, a frame, a guide supportedin the upper portion of said frame and adapted to receive the filament-equipped tape thereon, a pivotally-mounted lever, a knife carried by said lever at an intermediate point thereon, a die carried by said guide and having an claim 8, in which the knife has an die and opening therein for receiving said knife, said knife and die being arranged to sever said filament and a portion of said tape to provide a tab, a guide link secured to said lever, spring means fixed to said frame for normally 'urging said link and lever upwardly, and a severing cutter carried by said lever near the outer end thereof, said knife depending from said lever and adapted to cut said tape when said lever is lowered a partial distance and said cutter being adapted to transversely sever said tape when the lever is moved toward lowermost position.

15. A tape-forming and dispensing machine, comp-rising a frame, means for bringing a filament and tape together for uniting the same, a guide having side flanges adapted to receive the tape, a slotted die carried by said guide, a spring lever pivotally mounted upon said frame and equipped at an intermediate point with a knife adapted to extend through the slots of said die, spring and lever means for urging said lever normally to a raised position, said knife and slotted die being effective for slitting the tape and filament on said guide when the lever is moved downwardly a partial distance only and to form a tab thereby, and an outer cutter member carried by said lever for completely severing said tape when the lever is moved toward lowermost position.

16. The structure of claim 15, in which the moistening device is supported at the outer end of said guide and is equipped with a shield aligned With the filament of said tape for protecting said filament from contact with said moistening device.

17. A tape-forming and dispensing machine, comprising a frame, means for bringing a filament and tape together for uniting the same, a guide having side flanges adapted to receive the tape, a slotted die carried by said guide, a spring lever pivotally mounted upon said frame and equipped at an intermediate point with a knife adapted to extend through the slots of said die, spring and lever means for urging said lever normally to a raised position, said knife and slotted die being effective for slitting the tape in the shape of the letter H on said guide when the lever is moved downwardly a partial distance only, and an outer cutter member carried by said lever for completely severing said tape when the lever is moved toward lowermost position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

